Murphy – A homeless man from Cherokee faces four misdemeanor charges after he allegedly fired a handgun in the vicinity of First Baptist Church in Murphy that he said was to ward off another homeless man he thought was trying to rob him.
Robert David Blankenship, 42, of 1003 Wolfetown Road in Swain County, was arrested on Dec. 7 and remained at the Cherokee County Detention Center in lieu of $15,000 bond as of Monday.
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He was arrested by the Murphy Police Department and charged with being armed to the terror of people, assault by pointing a gun, carrying a concealed gun and discharging a firearm in the city. All four charges are misdemeanors.
Murphy police Officer Mylie Sparks said Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies were at a nearby gas station when they heard two or more gunshots they thought were coming from McDonald’s restaurant.
The deputies put a call for assistance out on the radio and Sparks responded, handling the case since it was inside Murphy police jurisdiction.
Sparks said Blankenship had spent the evening drinking with another homeless man near the church, but when Blankenship got up to leave, the other man followed him. Blankenship thought the other man wanted to rob him of his coat and shoes, then fired shots with a 9mm handgun he was carrying.
No one was injured, but Sparks said the other man was shaken up.
Blankenship has a record of petty crimes dating as far back as 2007, including DWI and traffic infractions, according to court records.